Angry villagers force open Gurgaon toll barriers

Irked over toll fee being charged from local vehicles, people from over a dozen villages Tuesday forced open the Kherki Daula toll barriers on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway for over an hour and a half.

People from Manesar, Shikohpur, Sikanderpur, Kherki Daula, Narsinghpur, Rampura and other villages gathered at the toll plaza and forced open all the 21 lanes.

People alleged the toll staff, manager and its chief, who mostly remains present at the toll gate, always use abusive language.

Mahesh Yadav, a protestor, said: "The toll staff Monday night charged every local vehicle. That forced us to open the toll barriers."

He added that the staff charged the toll despite 31 villages being exempt from paying the toll since the plaza's establishment.

The Millennium City Expressway Ltd. is the concessionaire company while Skylark Highway Solutions is operating the expressway.

Yadav told IANS that CMD of Skylark Highway Major (Retd) T.C. Rao, after taking charge of the toll plaza, ordered his staff to charge locals, saying he also belongs to the area and will tackle any situation.

Following Tuesday's incident, Assistant Commissioner of Police Narendra Kadiyan and Kherki Daula police station chief Hardeep Hooda initiated a meeting between Rao and the villagers.

"Rao not only agreed to continue the toll fee exemption to 31 villages but assured to include 11 new villages in the list," Shikohpur village sarpanch (village head) Shyochand said.

Later, in a mail sent to media persons Rao said nearly 200-300 goons Tuesday attacked the toll staff, looted Rs.50,000, tore up papers and threatened to torch the plaza.

Rao said he will raise the issue with higher authorities in Haryana and officials of the National Highways Authority of India.

He alleged goons from 31 villages are running a parallel toll, and added he will now charge all local commercial vehicles from next week.

There were police complaints from both the sides but no case was registered regarding Tuesday's incident.

"Till now, we have not registered any case against anyone," police officer Rantej Singh told IANS.